Valve connection for pneumatic cleaning systems.



G. R. THURMAN.

VALVE CONNECTION FOR PNEUMATIC CLEANING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.15, 1911.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

v h. M

PATENT QFFIGE CHihRLES lit. THURMELN, Q1 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC RENUVATUB MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CQEPQZMQQEEON PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE GONNECTEON PNEUMATIC CLEANING SYSTEIVZS.

Application filed August 15, 191,1.

. To all whom may concern Be it known that l, CHAuL'ss R. THUR- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of AL legheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Valve Connections for Pneumatic Cleaning Systems, of which the following is a specitication.

This invention relates generally to vacuum cleaning systems, and more particularly to valved hose coupling member for use in connection therewith into which member one end of a tleirible hose, carrying a cleaning tool on the other end, is thrust when it is desired to operate said tool.

The invention. is shown as applied to a coupling designed to be inserted in a floor or wall substantially flush therewith and closed by a liap valve to prevent dirt and dust entering thereinto when not connected to a hose. The inner end oi the coupling member is connected to an exhaust pipe placed below the floor or in the wall and leading to an air exhaustinechanisln of any approved type. lilose couplings provided flap or other closing valves which must be opened before the hose can be attached, are deemed very objectionable in hospitals and other places where perfect quiet is needed,'owing to the noise produced by the inrusl'i of air through the coupling member when the valve is opened.

To preventthis inrush of air and thus avoid the unpleasant soundscaused thereby is the principal object of the present invention. This object is attained in a simple and efiicient manner by providing a casing "formed with a suitableconnection for attaching it to the pipe of the exhaust apparatus and mounting in said casing a rotatable plug having a passageway therethrough into oneend of which passageway the hose ot'the suction tool is inserted, the other end or the passageway registering with an opening or port in the casing leading to the exhaust pipe when the plug is in one position, and out ch from said passage when rotated a suficient distance in one or the other directioni The plug is operated to open and close the port, preferably but not necessarily, by'turning the hose after Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. E1912c Serial no. 644,210.

its insertion in the plug, there being sufiicient frictional resistance between the hose and the wall of the passage to permit this. Qne means for accomplishing this desired result is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a central sectional view through the improved coupling as lb appears when placed in the floor and connected to the exhaust pipe, a hose being Sll(1-.*.Il in po sition, and thepassage in the plug open to the exhaust pipe. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the coupling only with the plug turned to cut ofi the flow of air therethrough, and Fig, 3 is an elevation or" the plug removed from the casing.

in the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used to designate the same parts in all the figures, A indicates the floor of a room and B a fixed pipe, forming a part of the permanent air exhaust apparatus which may, as shown, be inclosed within the wall of a building and provided with one or more Ts C, or other suitable fittings for the attachment of the improved hose couplings D, one alone being shown.

lln the present form of the invention the numeral 10 designates a cylindrical casing from one side of which projects an interiorly threaded socket l1 screwed tightly on the T C and preferably bearing at its upper end against the underside of the door A, as shown, or against the inner side of a wall it inserted therein. Through the wall of the casing '10 from the socket 11 is an opening 12 communicating with the interior of the casing for the passage or air into the pipe B- troni the coupling. The interior of the casing 10 is cylindrical in cross section and has inserted therein a plug 13, the lower half of which is of a siinliar shape fitting the same air tight and rotatable about its axis. The upper half 13 of the plug 13 is of less diameter than the lower half, or in other words it is necked down asshown in Fig. 3 and spaced from the circular wall of the casing. The top of the neck is in substantially the plane of the top of the casing. Within the plug 13, in the form shown in the drawing, there is a passageway 14 opening through the top of the plug and through one side thereof in position to register with the opening 12 in the casing when the plug is turned into operative position. The reduced upper end or neck 13 of the plug is made smooth so as to turn in a re taining sleeve 15, the perimeter of which is threaded to engage similar threads on the interior of the casing 10 at its upper end. A flange 16 projects from the upper end of the sleeve 15 and bears against the upper end of the casing 10 to limit the inward movement of the sleeve. A continua tion of the flange 17 overlies the end of the plug 13 and assists in retaining it in the casing. The lower end of the sleeve 15 bears on the shoulder 18 formed where the neck 13 joins the plug 13 and also assists in holding the plug in the casing. The up per face of the flange 16 is formed with a circumferential groove or slot to receive a gasket'19. Pivoted to the flange 16 at one side is a flap valve 20 adapted to be opened and closed by hand and when closed to seat air tight on the gasket 19. A thin flange or escutcheon 21 extends outwardly from the sleeve 15 and rests against the floor, as shown. This flange or escutcheon is made thin so as not to present any obstruction, and is formed with a depression 22 into which the flap valve 20 enters when closed.

When not' in use, the plug 13 is turned to the position represented in Fig. 2 which closes the opening 12 leading into the pipe B. The flap valve 20 may, under such condition, be opened without fear ofair entering the. coupling. The hose E may now be inserted in the passageway .14 and pushed therein until tight, after which by turning it and the plug\ until the passageway 14 registers with the opening 12 suction will be set up in the hose and the cleaning tools attached thereto rendered o erative.

To limit the movement otthe plug when turned ofl and on, a groove 25 may be made in the peripheral surface of the plug near the bottom to receive the pointed end of thescrew or bolt 26 threaded through the casing 10. The groove will preferably be of a length sufficient to permit a quarter revolution only of the plug so that the ends of the groove striking the screw 26 serve as stops to arrest the plug when fully turned ofl and on. 7

What ll claim is I 1. A hose coupling comprising a casing, a turning plug situated wholly within said casing and having a passage way therethrough adapted to receive and hold one end of a hose by means of which hose said plug may be turned to bring the passage way into and out of register with a port in the casing, and an annular retaining member connected to the casing and bearing on the plug to keep it in place.

2. A hose coupling for vacuum cleaning systems comprising a casing adapted to be rosasva attached to an exhaust apparatus, a turn ing plug fitting fluid tight in said casing and having a passageway therethrough adapted to receive one end of a hose by means of which hose said passageway may be moved into and out ofregister with an exhaust opening in the casing, and a sleeve threaded into said casing in contact with the plug for holding said plug in position.

3. A hose coupling for vacuum cleaning systems comprising a fixed casing adapted to be attached to an exhaust apparatus below a floor or within a wall and having an interiorly threaded outer end, a turning plug fitting fluid tight within said casing and having a passageway therethrough which may be turned into and out of engagement with an exhaust opening in the casing 'wall, said passageway having its outer end designed to tightlyreceive a hose end, and an externally threaded sleeve fitted between the upper end of the plug andthe casing for holding the plug in position, said sleeve having a thin integral escutcheon to bear against the floor or wall.

4:. A hose coupling for vacuum cleaning systems comprislng a fixed casing adapted to be attachedto an exhaust apparatus below a floor or within a wall and having an interiorly threaded outer end, a turning plug fitting fluid tight within said casing and having a passageway therethrough which may be turned into and out of engagement with an exhaust opening in the casing wall, said passageway having its outer enddesigned to tightly receive a hose end, and an externally threaded sleeve fitted between the upper end of the plug and the casing for holding the plu in position, said sleeve having an outer an an inner flange to bear on the casing and the plug respectively, a thin escutcheon integral with said sleeve contacting with the floor or wall, and a flap valve pivoted to said sleeve and adapted to close flush with the escutcheon.

5. A hose coupling comprising a casing, a turning plug situated wholly within said casing havlng an external shoulder and a through passageway adapted to receive and hold one end of a hose by means of which hose said plug may be turned to bring the passage way into and out of register with a port in the casing, and an annular retainmg member connected to the casing and bearing on said shoulder for holding the plug in position.

6; A hose coupling comprising a casing having a port, a turning plug situated wholly within said casing having an external shoulder and a through passageway ada ted to receive at one end and hold firm y the end of a hose by means of which said plug may be turned to bring the other end of the passage way into and out of register with said port in the casing, and

an annular retaining member threaded into In testimony whereof I have hereunto 'set the casing and bearmg at its lower end on my hand in presence of two subscribing witthe external shoulder of the plug, said renesses.

taining tmen'lber having an external flan CHARLES R. THURMAN. 5 formin an escuteheon to cooperate wi Witn:

the casmg for clamping the same to a sup- A. H. CLARKE, 7

port. A. El Fon'rmon. 

